Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-05-27
GARFIELD IN BRONZE.
scu1rtor Wards Statue Of the
Dead Statesman and Sol
der Unveiled.
Many Distinguished People Present
The Presidents Eloquent
Tribute.
Reunion of the Army of the CLIMBER
land-The Next Meeting TO &c
Held at Chicago.
Washington specinl.l

washington ePeCis.l
The Army of the Cumberland could not
have had q more perfect day for their dedi-
cation exercises. Promptly ut 1l:30 O'Clock
General Baird, Chief Marshal of the
parade, gave the signal for marching, and
the procession started. A platoon OF
mounted police led the way, followed by
General Baird and his aids, who preceded
q carriage in which was seated Generals
Sherman, Sheridan. and Rosecrans, three
of the four living commanders of the Array
of the Cumberland.
On grand stand near the statue seats
had been arranged for 1900 persons. just
before l o'clock the invited guests be-
gan to arrive. James and Harry Garfield
were escorted to seats by Gen. Mussey,
while Col. Wilson performed similar Office
for the aged w. W. Corcoran. Secretary
Bayard and Attorney General Garland
were among the early arrivals. The mem.
bers of the Supreme Court Of the United
States came in body. The District Judi.
ciarv, members OF the Court of Claims, and
District Commissioners we're also present.
At o'clock Gems. Sherman, Sheridan,
and Rosecrans aud Gov. Curtin arrived III
cession made its appearance. They Vert
soon followed by President Cleveland, es-
corted by Gen. Anderson, and Secretary
and Mrs. Fairchild. Secretary and Mrs
Lamar, Postmaster General Villas, and Col.
Lamont. Ex- Secretary Window and eX-
Attorney General MacVeagh Of President
Garfeld's Cabinet were among the guests
present.
At Ito o'clock Marshal Wilson, taking
his place on the stand, said:
LADIES AND GENTLEN1EN-The Society OF tho
Army of the Cumberland with these dis
tinguished guests. are assembled here to-day
for the purpose Of unveilng the statue Of that
eminent statesman and soldier, James A. Car
| field. The exercaes will be opened with prayer
by tho Rev. Dr. Giesy.
| There was short lull in the proceedings
while a battery of artillery fired q national
salute. Gen. Sheridan then introduced
the orator of the day, Gen. J. Warren
Keifer, who, on the part of the Monument
! Committee, delivered an address transfer
| ring the statue to Gen. Sheridan.
At its conclusion Gen. Sheridan, in be-
half Of the society, transferred the statue
to the President in the following words:
Mr. PREs1pENr-This statue which has boon
unveiled i'll your presence to-day was erected
| by the comrades OF Gen. Garfield belonging to
the Army Of the Cumberland. They recognized
|
| some testimony to thnt MORT and to his worth
| as man. have tho honor, sir. on behalf OF
the Society OF the Army OF the Cumberland, to
AJAX you MS the representative of the american
| people to accept the statue from their hunts rs
| it was given to. me. Applause.
The President, who arose as Gen. Sheri-
dan began speaking, then began his ad.
dress, accepting the statue as gift to the
nation.
FELLOW crTIzENs-In performance of The
duty assigned to me on this OCCASION hereby
accept, on behalf of the people OF the United
States. this complete and beautiful statue.
Amid the interchange of fraternal greetings
between the survivors Of the Army of the Cum.
| field, and while the Union General and the poo
| PIES President await BURIAL tho common grief
| OF these nngnanin1ous survivors and mourning
| citizons found expression in thc determination
| to erect this tribute to American greatness and
thus to-day, in it's symmetry aud beauty, il
presents sign Of animosities forgotten, an EN-.
| t IL iiat!c: restored. Monuments and statues
u.tiply throughout the land. 1ittingly illustra.
.lNo OF the love and lection OF our grateful
people, and conmemOratng brave and patriotic
sacrifices in war, fnnle in peaceful PURSUITS, OF
! honor in public station.
But from this day forth there shall stand at
our seat OF government this statue of g distin-
| guished citizen, who in his life and services
combined I'LL these things aud more which chal.
ienge admiration i'll American Misunderstanding
tenderness I in every domestic relation, bravery
| on tne he!d OF battle. fame and distinction in
| our halls Of legislation, and the highest honor
| and dignity in tho chief magistrncy Of the
/ nation. - "
| This stately efigy shall not foil to teach
every beholder that tho source of American
| greatness is confined to no condition nor de-
pendent alone for its growth and de, elopucnt
upon favorable surroundings. The genius Of
our national life beckons to usefulness and
honor those in every sphere ami offers the hi III
est preferment to manly hopes and sturdy,
honest effort chastt.lcd and cUnsecrated bv
patriotic hopes and nsDirutions AS lon1 n .
TINS statue stands let it be proudly remembered
that to every American citizen the way is omen
to fame and station, until he
Moving up from high to higher,
The pillar of IL peoples hope,
The center of q WOrlfl's loairo